Automatic lighter



Aug 13, 1935. s. w. NELDNER AUTOMATIC LIGHTER Filed Nov. 24, 19:0

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 13, 1935. I s. w. NELDNER AUTQIQATI IC LIGHTERFiled Nov. 24,1930

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 s. w. NELDN-ER Afn'onnc LIGHTER Filad Nov. '24, 1950 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 13, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE 4Claims.

This invention relates to automatic lighters for gas heaters for useparticularly in connection with gas stoves, ranges and ovens. One objectof the present invention is the provision of an automatic lighter whichwill produce an igniting'flame in response to movement of a burnercontrol element prior to the admission of gas to the burner so thatignition of the burner will be effected promptly upon admission of gasthereto.

Anotherobject of the present invention is the provision of gasconnections between the several burner valves and the flash lighter sothat movement of any burner control element will effect the projectionof a lighting flame to the several burners.

Another object is the provision in a gas stove havinga plurality ofburners, one of which is an oven burner, and a single lighter thereforof means for igniting an auxiliary jumper flame in response to movementof the oven burner valve to eflect lighting of that burner from theflash lighter through the jumper flame.

A further object resides in the provision of novel means for effectingthe flash lighting flame by initial movement of the valve handle byeither axial movement or rotation thereof.

A further object resides in the provision of a novel and improved tipfor the flash lighter.

Another object resides in the improved means for establishing a simmerflame by rotating a valve stem beyond the normal open position tothereby cut oil a portion of the gas supply to the burner.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following descriptionof an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

In the accompany n w s:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a conventional gas stove and oven equippedwith an automatic igniting system constructed in accordance with thepresent invention, parts being broken away to better illustrate theoperation.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of one of the burner controlvalves.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of the operatingvalve taken atrightangles to Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2; the dottedline showing of the valve stem indicating the position of the ports toeffect a simmer flame by continued rotation of the valve stem beyond thenormal full open position.

' Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a view partly in section and partly'in 5 elevation of the ovencontrol valve shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view taken on 10 the line Ill-l0 ofFig. 8.

.Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view through the lighter tip andhousing therefor.

Fig. 12 is a horizontal sectional view through the lighter tip and hoodtaken on the line l2-i2 of Fi 11.

The gas stove shown in Fig. 1 is of conventional form and includes theusual burners I0 and an oven burner II which are supplied from thecustomary gas manifold l2 through cocks I3 which differ from standardconstruction in a manner to be hereinafter more specifically described.The stove is also equipped with a flash lighter I having the generalattributes of the ordinary lighter but provided with novel features tobe hereinafter more specifically described. The flash lighter I4 ispositioned in the usual manner between the several burners I 0 andreceives its gas supply through a tube l5 from the manifold I! throughapporpriate gas connections to be hereinafter described in detail.

Although the valve bodies l3 are of usual design and appearance they areprovided with valve stems l6 which are specially constructed to carryout the novel method of effecting ignition of the flash lighter by theinitial movement of the operating handles II which are suitablyconnected to the valve stems l6 in a manner to be herein after morespecifically recited.

The gas cook shown in Figs. 2 to '7 is adapted 40 for use in any of thestove burners ill, the remaining valves for the stove burners ill being'similar save for the fact that they are not provided with bleed ports orneedle valves to main tain a'pilot-lightin the flash lighter. The valvei3" for the oven burner ll difiers slightly from the construction of theremaining valves and is clearly illustrated in Figs. 8 to 10 inclusivein the drawings. Its construction in operation will be more clearlyrecited when the functioning of the system is ,later described.

The general assembly of the several elements is identical with presentday stove assembly save for the fact that the several valves areprovided with means which will automatically establish an igniting flamefrom the flash lighter upon initial movement of any of the valve handles|1 prior to the admission of gas to the particular burner which thevalve normally regulates.

The valve housing l3 comprises a pair of oppositely directed nipples l8and IQ for connection with the burners I and manifold |2 respectively.The housing I3 is also provided with a threaded boss 26 adapted toreceive the end of a supply pipe 2|. A suitable coupling nut 22 servingto anchor the pipe 2| to the boss 20 securely to prevent gas leakage. Alongitudinal bore 23 in the valve housing |3 serves to receive the valvestem Hi. The valve stem or plug -|6 is of hollow construction androtatable in the housing |3 to control communication between the nipplesI9 and I8 and thus control-the supply of gas to the burner In. A spring24 on one end of the stem l6 coacts with the end of the housing l3 in awell known manner to maintain the tapered stem |6 snugly seated withinthe bore 23 of the housing l3. A usual stop pin 25 on the stem I6 ismovable within a cutaway portion 26 of the valve housing I3 to limit therotation of the stem.

The nipple I9 is provided with a central passage 21 which is in constantcommunication between the manifold I2 and a'central bore 21 in the valvestem l6. A bleed passage 28 is directed from the passage'21 andcommunicates with a passage 29 to supply thepilot lighter M withwillcientgas to maintain the pilot light. The amount of gas so suppliedis controlled through adjustment of a needle valve 30 within the passage28. The passage 29 opens into a bore 3| within the boss 20, and thenceis directed through the pipe 2| to the pipe l and thence to the lightertip. Thus it will be noted at all times that thepilot lighter receives asupply of gas regardless of the position of any of the valve handles byvirtue of the open communication with the manifold l2.

An auxiliary plug 32 is fitted for longitudinal movement within areduced passage 33 which communicates with the passage 21. The plug 32is provided with an enlarged head 34 which forms a valve for controllingthe passage of gas from the chamber 21' to the bore 33. The plug 32 isprovided with a reduced portion so as to permit a flow ofgas from thebore 33 through a port 36 in the valve stem so as to communicate withthe annular passage 31 in the casing l3 and thence with the passage 3|in the boss 20.-

The plug 32 is-provided with screw threading 38 at its upper extremityfor the purpose of receiving a screw threaded plug 39 which is seatedwithin a bore 40 at the upper end of the valve stem |6. A coil spring 4|which surrounds the plug 32 serves to retain the head 34 against thevalve seat by virtue of the fact that it is confined between the plug 39and the base of the bore 40. A pair of oppositely disposed slantingslots 42 are directed transversely through the upper portion of thevalve stem l6. An anchoring pin 43 serves as a means for anchoring ahead casting 44 onto the stem |6. The head casting 44 is provided with acentral hollowed out portion 45 which is adapted to fit snugly over theupper end of the valve stem I6. The valve operating handle I1 isanchored withinthe head 44 by means of a cap screw 46 whose threaded.

end is anchored within a spherical member 41.

A pin 48 which passes through the head 44 of the member 41 serves toanchor the last named I member against rotation within the member 44 butpermits a rocking movement of the handle |1 within the head 44 upon thepin 43. The

- 39 thereby compressing the spring element 4| and disengaging the valvehead 34 from its seat to thereby permit the admission of gas from thepassage 21 through the passages 33, 36, 31 and 3| and thence to thesupply pipe 2| to provide a charge of gas to energize the flash lighterto produce the several projecting flames for igniting the burner.

The identical result described in the preceding paragraph may beaccomplished by the initial rotation of the valve operating handle |1through the lost motion connection aiforded by cooperation of the pin 43with the slots 42. Upon rotation of the handle l1 and the head 44 thepin 43 will be for sea downwardly and engage the upper face of the plug39 to effect a depression of the same to free the valve head 34 from itsseat and effect the gas connection previously referred to for thepurpose of energizing the flash lighter.

It will thus be noted that the initial movement of the valve operatinghandle |1 will serve to establish a gas connection between the manifoldl2 and the lighter I4 regardless of whether the initial movement be oneof rotation or axial displacement of the handle l1. Continued rotationof the handle |1 will establish communication between a port 52 in thevalve stem l6 and a central passage 53 within the nipple l8. A port 54in the valve stem I6 serves always to afiord communication between thepassage 21 in the nipple l3 and the longitudinal bore 21 in the valvestem l6, The pipe 2| which leads from the valve I3 is connected to aboss 20 of the next successive gas cook l3. The construction of thesecond gas cook being substantially identical to the one just describedsave for the fact that a pair of diametrically opposed bosses 20' areprovided instead of the single boss 20 as shown in the valve portrayedin Fig. 2. Each of these bosses communicates with the annular passage 31in the valve body |3 through passages 3| which are similar to thoseshown in Figs. 2 and 5. The other respect in which the succeeding valveshousings I3 differ from the one previously described resides in the factthat the additional housings are not provided with the bleed passage toeffect a gas connection for maintaining a pilot light.

The oven cock l3 shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 differs from the other cocksI3 and I3 by reason of the fact that no bleed passage is provided andfurther that passage 31 contained in the other valves has beeneliminated. The oven valve is similar in all other respects with thevalve shown in Fig. 2 save for construction of the valve plug 6' whichis provided with a pair of ports 36' and 36 instead of the single port36 as shown in the valve stem I6. Ports 3| and 3|" contained in thebosses 26' serve to cooperate with the ports 36' and 36" to establishgas communication between the central bore 33' of the valve stem I6 andthe pipe 2| and a pipe 55. The pipe 55 is directed inwardly andterminates in a nozzle 56 which cooperates with an aperture 51 in thethat the initial movement of the operating handle H" serves only toestablish gas communication between the manifold l2 and the lighter M ina manner identical with that described heretofore with respect to valve|3. The continued rotation of the operating handle |1" will place theport 36" in communication with the port 3| so that both ports and 36"are simultanenously supplying gas to their respective passages during aportion of rotation of the valve body l6. Further rotation of the valvebody l6 will cut oil communication between ports 36' and 3| andthus cutoil the gas supply to the lighter M. This particular sequence ofoperation is important by reason of the fact that initial movement ofthe valve handle II" will energize the lighter M; continued movement ofthe handle will supply the nozzle 55 of the pipe 55 with a gas supplywhich is projected in the path of one of the lighter flames. When thiscondition exists the gas supply to the nozzle 56 will be ignited andform a jumper flame to carry the lighter flame to a remote burner and toignite the same. In this case the remoteburner is the oven burnerFurther rotation of the valve stem l6 will supply gas to the oven bunerH and upon release of the valve handle H" the gas supply to the jumpertorch will be cut off in a manner identical with the operation of thevalve I3.

The novel lighter tip embodied in the present invention comprises theusual supply pipe l5 which is upwardly turned at its extremity andprovided with threading 2|. A nut 59 serves as a foundation upon whichthe lighter assembly is supported. A base'plate 60 rests upon the nut 59and is provided with a downwardly turned flange portion 6|. A hood 62preferably formed of sheet metal is provided with a plurality ofapertures 63 through which igniting flames may be projected. A tip 64fashioned in the form of a nut adapted to be received on the threadedportion 2| on the pipe I5 is provided with a reduced upper extremity. Acentral passage 65 extends longitudinally through the nut 64. Aplurality of slots 66 are cut down from the upper extremity of thereduced portion of the nut 64 to form gas ports. A plug 61 is adapted toclose the upper extremity of the passage 65 and is longitudinallyadjusted by reason of frictional engagement with the'walls of thepassage 65 so that the desired portion of the slots 66 may be uncoveredto provide the proper size jet for the igniting flame to insure itsprojection to the several burners l0 and also to the jumper flame nozzle56.

The provision of the jumper flame together with an igniting flame forcarrying a. light to a will establish communication be remote burnerprovides great flexibility in operation of stove and oven burners byreason of the fact that it eliminates the necessity for the installationof a second lighter element within the oven in orde to provide automaticlighting of the oven burner upon manipulation of the oven valve cock. l

While the device lias been described in consideralclc detail in theforegoing specification, various changes may be made in the embodimentof the invention hereinabove specifically described without departingfrom or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention hereinafterclaimed.

Iclaim: 1. The combination of a plurality of gas burners, individualregulating valves therefor, a

flash lighter for igniting said burners, an independently operableauxiliary valve associated with each of said regulating valves forcontrolling said lighter, a control element for each of said regulatingvalves effective to operate the associated auxiliary valve, and meansfor automatically closing each auxiliary valve upon manual release ofthe associated control element.

2. The combination of a plurality of gas burners, individual regulatingvalves for said burners, a flash lighter for said burners, an auxiliaryvalve associated with each of said regulating valves for controllingsaid lighter, a control element for each of said regulating valves, andan operating connection between each. of said control elements and theassociated auxiliary valve effective to render said lighter effectiveupon initial movement of said element and to render said lighterineffective upon release of said element.

3. The combination of a plurality of burners, individualregulatingvalves for said burners, a flash lighter forsaid burners, an auxiliaryvalve associated with each of said regulating valves for controllingsaid lighter, a single control element for each of said regulatingvalves and its associated auxiliary valve, and means responsive toinitial movement of each control element for operating said associatedauxiliary valve and responsive to further movement thereof to operatethe associated regulating valve. 7

4. The combination of a plurality of gas burners including a remoteburner, individual valves including a remote burner valve forcontrolling the admission of gas to each of said burners, a lighterpositioned between said burners for projecting igniting flames towardsaid burners, gas communications between said valves and lighter, atorch connected with said remote burner valve and lying in the path ofone of said igniting flames, means responsiveto operation of said remoteburner valves to, supply gas to said torch, said torch projecting anigniting flame picked up from said lighter flame and projecting the'sametoward the remote burner, means responsive to the initial rotation ofsaid remote burner valve to render said lighter effective, means forsupplying gas to said remote burner while said torch is supplied withgas and means for cutting on" the gas supply to said torch when saidremote burner is lit.

STEPHEN W. NELDNER.

